BOX SCORE
Reading, PA – Marywood got an outstanding effort from goalie Katie Sullivan and a seven-point game from Alanna Waldron as the Pacers earned the first win in the program's young history with a 14-9 victory over Alvernia College. With the win, Marywood improves its record to 1-7 and 1-6 in Pennsylvania Athletic Conference play, while the Crusaders see their record slide to 1-8 overall and 1-4 in the conference.
Marywood got goals from four different players as the Pacers opened up a 4-0 lead over the first seven minutes of the contest. Jacquelyn Swallow (Richboro, PA) opened the scoring just 45 seconds into the contest off an assist from Waldron (Liverpool, NY) and Allie Sodl (Coplay, PA) gave the visitors a two-advantage just over a minute later. Katlyn Fitzpatrick (Old Bridge, NJ) scored off a free-position shot and Laura Gierman (Columbus, NJ) as Marywood staked out the early four-goal advantage.
The Pacers would claim the final three goals of the first half after Katie O'Brien scored for Alvernia. Kelly Kuzicki (Vernon, NJ) tallied her fifth goal of the season unassisted before Waldron scored two of her own, the second assisted by Kuzicki, as Marywood held a 7-1 halftime advantage.
The Crusaders would mount a comeback over the first eight minutes of the second half, scoring four straight goals to cut Marywood's lead to 7-5. Gierman broke Alvernia's run with her second goal of the game with 15:53 to play, but O'Brien scored her fifth goal of the game just 30 seconds later.
The two teams again traded goals a few minutes later as Waldron scored for the Pacers and McKenna Shafer netted one for the hosts, bringing the score to 9-7 with 13:47 to play. However, Marywood would score three straight goals to give the Pacers some breathing room, as Waldron, Sodl, and Fitzpatrick all found the back of the net over the next three minutes.
Alvernia would not go down without a fight though, as O'Brien and Felicia Sippel scored to bring the Crusaders within three goals with just under 10 minutes to play, but Sullivan (Merrick, NY) was outstanding in Marywood's net and held Alvernia off the scoreboard the rest of the way, and Jen Silvestri (Warwick, NY) and Waldron scored late insurance goals. Waldron finished the afternoon with five goals, including the eventual game-winner, and two assists.
Sullivan picked up the win for Marywood by making a season-high 26 saves, while her counterpart, Janelle Fulmer took the loss despite an impressive 23-save performance for Alvernia.
The Crusaders, who were led by O'Brien's six goals, held a slim 44-43 advantage in shots and a 33-28 edge in ground balls.
After playing their seventh straight conference game Tuesday, the Pacers will host Chestnut Hill College The opening face-off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. in a non-conference game Thursday afternoon.
